On the Map Image by Dani Menkin
My best time at the movies this year was seeing “On the Map,” an uplifting documentary directed and written by Dani Menkin about how the hard work of the players of its Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team put Israel on the world map in 1977 by winning the EuroCup. Menkin deftly interweaves archival footage with interviews with players, including team captain Tal Brody along with Hall of Famer Bill Walton. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I laughed, I cried and I watched in anticipation to see what would unfold. Even better was that I brought my kids, and I loved experiencing the film with them, as it brought Israel’s history to life, and made us feel a love and pride for the country, in a way that only an actual trip there usually does.
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